Our Story

History, Mission, Affiliates & Board

the seed

& the sowers

Gazing out of their church office window to a professional arts building across the way, two young pastors imagined a place where people could go to find healing and hope in a loving, professional atmosphere. The two pastors, Dr. William Enright and Dr. Charles Alcorn, were serving the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn at the time. Their decision to pursue the idea in earnest came with their congregation’s blessing and eventual formation of a “Living Mission Fund.” This fund and a subsequent endowment led to the Center’s start-up. Seven other local churches and parishes soon joined in support.

So in the fall of 1976, with a few pieces of hand-me-down furniture and a the use of an office in the basement of the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn, the Central DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center officially opened its doors. Dr. Charles Alcorn served as the Center’s first executive director.

growth

& maturity

As our staff grew and the number of clients we served increased, additional office space became a critical need. Our search was ended in 1992 when the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton graciously offered to house our offices in their unused Manse. The Manse was a lovely, home-like setting that fit us well. During our seven years there, we expanded our educational services with unique and creative programing while also growing our clinical services to include internships for student therapists. Our affiliations with local churches also grew to include more than 25 Catholic and Protestant congregations. In 1999, we learned that the Manse was scheduled to be raised as part of a major expansion project by the church, generating the need once more for new office space. When no suitable space materialized, the board and staff began to consider the only option left – to purchase a commercial property. With the aid and support of our affiliate churches and members of the community, we were able to purchase space in the Mona Kea office complex. In the spring of 1999, the Center moved into its first permanent home.

deeply rooted

firmly established

Now, years later, we look back on our relocation “crisis” as the blessing that helped secure our future. It was during this time that the Center’s endowment was established through the DuPage Community Foundation, which continues to strengthen the Center and secure its future.

In 2006, after 30 years at the helm, Dr. Alcorn stepped down from his role as Executive Director to take up the challenge of growing the Center’s endowment. Dr. James Natter, who served as the Center’s Associate Director since 1992, was elected to the position of Executive Director and continues to serve in that capacity today.

Our Mission:

Founded in Christian traditions, Central DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center welcomes everyone, inspires hope, and facilitates healing. Skilled, licensed therapists apply the perspectives of psychology, physiology, spirituality, and culture in providing integrated therapeutic care and educational services.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jer 29:11

Our Affiliates

Faith Lutheran Church
41 N. Park Blvd – Glen Ellyn
630-469-2361

First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn
550 N. Main St – Glen Ellyn
630-469-2007

Gary United Methodist Church
224 N. Main St – Wheaton
630-668-3100

Grace Lutheran Church of Bensenville
950 S York Rd – Bensenville
630-766-3030

Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn
493 Forest Ave – Glen Ellyn
630-469-1555

Hope Presbyterian Church
1771 S. Wiesbrook Rd – Wheaton
630-668-7750

St. Matthew United Church of Christ
1420 Gables Blvd – Wheaton
630-665-1236

St. Paul Lutheran Church
515 S. Wheaton Ave – Wheaton
630-668-5953

First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
535 Forest Ave – Glen Ellyn
630-469-3096

First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton
715 Carlton – Wheaton
630-668-5147

Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church
277 Hawthorne – Glen Ellyn
630-469-5405

Holy Cross Lutheran Church
802 E. Geneva Rd – Wheaton
630-665-1515

Peace Lutheran Church
21W500 Butterfield Rd – Lombard
630-627-1101

St. Michael Catholic Church
310 S. Wheaton Ave – Wheaton
630-665-2250

St. Petronille Parish
420 Glenwood – Glen Ellyn
630-469-0404

Trinity Episcopal Church
130 N. West St – Wheaton
630-665-1101

Our Associates

Calvary Episcopal
105 West Maple – Lombard
630-620-8899

Community Presbyterian Church
1111 E. Madison – Lombard
630-627-0306

St. Isidore Parish
427 W. Army Trail Rd – Bloomingdale
630-529-3045

St. John Lutheran Church
410 N. Cross St – Wheaton
630-668-0701

St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church
23W080 Butterfield Rd – Glen Ellyn
630-469-5552

St. Paul Lutheran Church
515 S. Wheaton Ave – Wheaton
630-668-5953

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
331 W. George St – West Chicago
630-231-1175

Christ Community Church
602 E. Geneva Rd – Wheaton
630-665-2259

Corpus Christi Catholic Church
1415 Lies Road – Carol Stream
630-483-4673

St. Daniel the Prophet Church
101 West Loop Rd – Wheaton
630-682-5003

St. James the Apostle Catholic Church
480 S. Park Blvd – Glen Ellyn
630-469-7540

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
0S233 Church St – Winfield
630-668-0918

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
393 Main St – Glen Ellyn
630-858-1020

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
331 W. George St – West Chicago
630-231-1175

Our Board:

Roger Lautz, Chair

Glen Ellyn Evangelical Church

Roger Lautz was born and raised in Japan where his parents served for many years as missionaries following WWII. Following high school in Japan and college in the US, Roger has spent most of the last 43 years in the Wheaton, Illinois area. He has been in homebuilding since 1979 – a profession he pursued following an interesting summer as a construction intern. Roger and his wife have been active members of the Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois since 1983.

Mickey Wendorf, Treasurer

Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn

Mickey has been a member of Faith for 25 years. She is active in the music program there and also serves as an assisting minister and a Stephen Ministry leader. As a CPA, Mickey taught accounting for several years at College of DuPage and retired after 15 years at DePaul University in 2012. She also worked for Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business as Director of Financial Operations and as Media Director, lending credibility to her claim of being “whole brained.” Mickey also serves on the board of the Madison Street Theatre in Oak Park.

Charles Wilcox, Vice Chair & Liaison Coordinator

Trinity Episcopal, Wheaton

Charles Wilcox enjoyed careers in commercial banking, financial, and risk management and hospitality management. In addition, he served in the US Navy Reserve for 23 years (including five active during the Vietnam War), retiring as a Commander. He has been an active member of Trinity Episcopal in Wheaton since 1979, serving on its vestry four times in numerous leadership roles. He served on the CDPCC board previously for about five years.

Married to Ruth Anne with whom he has two daughters and four grandchildren, he is now retired and enjoying golf, walking, reading and traveling.

Lora Schofield Ilhardt

First Congregational Church, Glen Ellyn

Lora has been a member of First Congregational for over 25 years and is very active in the music programs there as a harpist, guitarist, and a member of the choir and the recorder group. She majored in music at Middlebury College, but then completely changed direction and attended Harvard Law School to practice law. She has worked as an attorney at Chapman and Cutler in Chicago and also Sara Lee Corporation.

Lora lives with her husband in Glen Ellyn and has three grown sons and a daughter. She also works at the Glen Ellyn Walk-in Ministry.

Eric Peterson

First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn

Erik has resided in the Glen Ellyn/Wheaton area since 1996. He brings extensive community leadership and business experience to CDPCC. Erik is missions elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn overseeing a 12-member missions council that actively supports over 22 local, national and international partners. In 2018, Erik co-founded One Community, a local non-profit focused on celebrating the rich diversity of people and cultures in DuPage county.

In addition, Eric has volunteered for many area civic and community service organizations including: DuPage PADS, Community Arts Partners, Glen Ellyn Infant Welfare Society, League of Women Voters, Children’s Resource Center, and others.

Professionally, Erik founded a digital marketing design firm called Elumin in 2001, which served local businesses, non-profits and Christian organizations. In 2014 he took a leadership role as senior digital strategist at an international digital design agency, collaborating with staff across the world.

Eric Wulf

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn

Eric resides in Wheaton with his wife and two daughters. He grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and graduated from the University of Iowa (BA) and Union University (MBA). He joined St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in 2008 after previously serving as a member and deacon at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Professionally, Eric is the chief executive officer of International Carwash Association.

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